The paring knife from Yaxell in the RAN series is the smallest knife in the kitchen, ideal for peeling fruit and vegetables as well as for other precision work. It can be used in the hand, as when peeling onions, or against a cutting board to cut smaller ingredients. Ran, which means "the excellent" in Japanese, is a fitting name for this knife series. The blades consist of 69 layers of damascus steel, with a core of hard VG10 steel and outer layers of softer, rust-resistant steel. This gives the knives extreme sharpness and durability. The handle is made of black micarta, a material created by joining linen cloth and special plastic under high pressure. This results in a hard, water-resistant and hygienic material, perfect for a kitchen environment. The handle is attached with two strong steel rivets and has a stainless button at the end to ensure perfect balance.